Test drive: 2006 Infiniti M

If you're looking for a tasty combination of luxury and sportiness, check out the 2006 Infiniti M sedans. The M35, which ranges from $39,900 to $42,700, hits the target for entry luxury buyers, while the uplevel M45 at $46,750 to $49,550 will please even the snootiest shopper. The Infiniti M sedans feature two great engines: the award-winning VQ 280-hp V-6 or the powerful 335-hp 4.5-liter V-8. The 4 year/60,000-mile basic warranty is just another reason to appreciate this exciting new ride.

First Glance

The Infiniti M spans the sedan gap between the G35 and the Q45, providing sportiness and luxury in a four-door that plays in a highly competitive segment: it's pitched against the Lexus GS, BMW 5-Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Infiniti offers Base and Sport versions of the M; the M45 employs rear-wheel-drive, while the M35 offers a choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive. The good news is they are all available now, a refreshing change from the standard practice of metering out different models over the next two or three years. This means if you want all-wheel drive you can have it now, not 15 months from now. Three packages, Journey, Technology, and Premium, add great features that take the luxury experience to an entirely new level. Creating a vehicle that provides balance between fun to drive and hot styling isn't an easy task, but Infiniti tackles it with success. From end to end, the Infiniti M's exterior treatment is clean and expressive, starting with the catamaran-angled front fender lines and short overhangs to the rounded haunches with bold L-shaped taillights. That's the luxury side. The quad exhaust pipes, low hood, big 18- or 19-inch wheels, low-profile rubber and wide-track stance deliver the performance image.

In the Driver's Seat

You know when you check into a Howard Johnson's on business you look around the room and cry? Then on vacation you're at the Ritz Carlton, with a view of the ocean, a bed as soft as baby powder, and fluffy towels? That's what the interior of the M is like compared to other sedans. The rosewood finish on the console, doors, and dash is to die for. It's not highly polished, but in a natural state, and imparts the feeling of a Japanese tranquility room. If wood isn't your idea of interior design, you can opt for aluminum trim on the Sport model, but you'd be missing out big time. I love unique ideas, and the round, deep-set electrofluorescent instruments feature Solar Eclipse lighting, which upon startup emits a glowing effect that's stunning. When asked the reasoning behind it, the engineers just said they liked it. How often does a cool feature like that get to stay on a vehicle and not be chopped out by bean counters? The seats are comfortable, the Bose high-end surround sound audio blows out ear drums with top-quality tone, and everything fires up via the push of a button with the Intelligent Key system that marks the beginning of the end for ignition outlets. Finally, we're driving products that belong in the 21st century.

On the Road

Usually when two engine choices are offered the low-end powerplant is anemic, but not with the M35. The VQ 3.5 delivers 270 lb-ft of torque, which launches the M35 like a greyhound out of the gate. If you think that's fast, try the V-8 in the M45; it peels up the pavement as it moves down the road. It's at home in the city, with a comfortable ride worthy of the luxury description, but it transforms into a true sport sedan on the open road. The independent suspension is controlled and well damped, and every steering input is instantly transmitted to the road with a responsiveness expected from an Infiniti product. For those who push their vehicles hard, Infiniti offers rear active steer, which actually changes the geometry of the rear wheels to enhance control and deliver sharp, crisp handling performance. Innovation comes through on the M with the Downshift Rev-Matching mode on the manual shift automatic transmission; as you downshift in manual mode, the engine automatically revs the engine between gears so there's no sudden lurch--a technique that racing drivers work years to master. Throw in the Vehicle Dynamics Control system for traction and stability and the capable all-wheel drive, and this becomes an irresistible ride.

Journey's End

The luxury-sport segment is one of the fastest growing in the industry, and it's a tough place to compete. The good news is that means lots of choice for all of us. Are you looking for ultimate performance or ultimate luxury in this price range? Or are you looking for the best mix of both at the best price? Frankly, the M is packed with so much technology it would take a review three times this length to cover it all. I didn't even touch on the Lane Departure Warning System that alerts the driver when the vehicle wanders into the next lane, or the intelligent cruise control, pre-crash seatbelts, preview braking, and Adaptive Front Lighting. The safety features alone could serve as a grad student's dissertation. Some lament that technology takes away from the driving experience, and on some vehicles that can be true, but the M35 and M45 innovations just enhance the experience, making us all better drivers in the end. It's nice to see Infiniti continuing to fulfill the public's cravings for a vehicle that can be everything to everyone without being neutered by complacency. -- BJ Killeen is a female automotive journalist and former road test editor for Motor Trend Magazine. She currently co-hosts Drivers Talk Radio in California.